Title: ✊1.8. Your Human Rights on the Internet
Course: "Our networks, our security" Digital Security with a Gender Perspective > Section: Our internet, Our Rights: Basic Concepts

At first, I thought the Internet was a completely free space with no rules. But as I learned more, I realized that various controls and regulations shape how we interact, behave, and access information online. I also learned that there is no aspect of the digital revolution that cannot and should not be examined from a human rights perspective.

At the international level, it has been firmly established that human rights exercised offline must also be protected online. This means that people's rights arethe same whether online or offline; what has emerged are s only new ways of exercising these rights.

The term "digital rights" refers to the rights that arise from recognizing fundamental rights on the web, allowing people to access, create, and publish digital content, as well as use electronic devices and communication networks.

It is also important to note that Internet rights adapt as digital spaces transform and new risks to individuals emerge.

Click👉 here to download the information about human rights related to the Internet, in plain text.

Here you can consult additional resources to learn more about human rights on the Internet:
- Guide to Human Rights for Internet Users from the Council of Europe (pdf)
- Charter of Human Rights and Principles
- Standards for a Free, Open, and Inclusive Internet
- Poster “Human Rights and the Internet”

We also need to keep in mind that women's digital rights are human rights.

For many years, discussions about digital rights often overlooked a gender perspective, resulting in solutions that did not fully address the challenges women face online. As a result, many measures aimed at making the Internet safer and more respectful of human rights have not always provided effective protections for women.

To change this, women and girls must actively claim their digital rights and ensure their voices are heard in conversations about Internet governance and policy.

This means advocating for stronger protections, reporting online violence and discrimination, and demanding inclusive solutions that reflect their experiences. Additionally, we must support and empower other women by sharing knowledge, amplifying their concerns, and pushing for a safer, more equitable digital space for all.

When navigating online, women and girls have the right to:

Click 👉here to download the information about the module summary, in plain text.

For women and girls, access to the Internet is closely linked to their right to personal freedom and security. This right is highlighted in several key human rights documents, including Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1 of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, and Article 4.c of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women (Belém do Pará Convention), all of which extend their protections to the digital world.

As a result, women have the right to be protected from online violence, the misuse of their personal data, and attacks on their digital identity and physical safety, all of which can be perpetrated through new technologies.

Here are some additional resources that helped me better understand the rights we have on the internet:

- "Women’s Rights, Gender, and Internet Governance," Avri Doria, APC. (pdf)
- Infographic: Women’s Human Rights by UN Women (web) -
- Report on Women’s Digital Rights by the World Wide Web Foundation (in English) (pdf)

Yes, the Internet is here to stay—now let's explore how to navigate it safely! 🚀🌐🔐

Click 👉 here to download the information about the module summary, in plain text.

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